An Hour passed, and the CH-53E Super Stallion continued its steady ascent through the vast expanse of the sky.

The aircraft's powerful rotors sliced through the air, propelling it forward with a purposeful determination.

Inside the aircraft, the atmosphere was a mix of excitement and awe.

Rory, ever the curious observer, pressed her face against the small window, gazing out at the unfolding panorama.

The world below seemed to shrink as the Super Stallion climbed higher and higher.

But just as Rory was about to comment on the breathtaking view, a sudden change occurred outside the aircraft.

Tuka, who was seated beside Rory, noticed the sudden transformation.

"Why did the outside turn white?" Tuka asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Hailey turned to Tuka and explained.

"We're passing through the clouds. The moisture in the air condenses at higher altitudes, creating this white, fluffy layer." Hailey explained.

Rory chimed in, her voice tinged with amazement.

"Really? Not even Wyverns can fly this high without having trouble breathing." Rory said.

As the conversation unfolded, Hamilton, who had been clutching onto Piña in a mix of excitement and fear.

Piña timidly peeked out of the window.

Piña's eyes widened as she beheld a sight that filled her with wonder.

"Hamilton, look out the window!" Piña told her, her voice filled with awe.

Hamilton's gaze followed Piña's finger, and she couldn't help but gasp.

The view outside was nothing short of breathtaking.

The sky stretched endlessly, an azure canvas adorned with fluffy clouds that seemed to extend to infinity.

'Wow!' The Falmartians shouted in their heads.

'Its the Celestial Realm!' Piña and Hamilton exclaimed in unison, their voices reverberating in their minds.

Unable to contain their excitement, the two young adventurers dashed toward Mike, who was seated a few rows ahead.

Mike glanced up from his seat and met their eager gazes.

"Sir Ramirez, could we go outside?!" Piña blurted out, enthusiasm lacing every word.

Hamilton echoed her plea, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Can we, Lord Ramirez?!" Hamilton said.

Mike contemplated their request, his eyes flickering with a mixture of amusement and caution.

Sensing the desire burning within them, he knew he had to tread carefully.

He stood up and beckoned them to follow.

"Follow me." Mike said, his voice calm yet commanding.

Piña and Hamilton exchanged excited glances before quickly trailing behind him, their hearts racing with anticipation.

The trio arrived at the open door of the Super Stallion, where a ramp gunner named Robert manned a formidable M3M Machine Gun.

Robert, catching wind of their plan, shook his head vigorously, signaling a resounding 'No!' to their eager proposition to Mike.

Undeterred, Mike knelt down beside the open door, his eyes fixed on the swirling sea of clouds below.

Piña and Hamilton leaned in, their excitement momentarily overshadowed by a rush of fear.

Mike began to explain the harsh reality they faced.

"Those are clouds, if you were to step outside now, you would simply fall to your death. The force of the fall would shatter your bones, and your organs would spill out upon impact with the ground." Mike explained, his tone firm yet tinged with concern.

Piña and Hamilton's faces paled at the grim image Mike painted.

Reality crashed over them like a wave, reminding them of the dangers lurking beyond the safety of the aircraft.

Mike glanced at Robert, who shared a knowing smile with him.

The sight of Piña and Hamilton's enthusiasm, tempered with a newfound understanding of the risks, brought a sense of camaraderie between the two Marines.

As the Super Stallion continued its flight through the clouds, Piña and Hamilton reluctantly retreated back to their seats.

—

Meanwhile...

The group of seven MARSOC raiders continued their journey through the fields, their footsteps leaving faint imprints in the soft earth.

Despite the absence of any signs of enemy activity, they remained cautious, their senses heightened.

As they pressed forward, the weight of their mission hung heavy in the air.

Each member maintained a heightened state of alertness, their eyes scanning the surroundings with precision.

The vast emptiness seemed to stretch endlessly before them, a constant reminder that danger could be lurking just beyond the horizon.

The team communicated with subtle gestures and shared glances, their silent understanding a testament to their seamless coordination.

They moved in unison, their unity serving as a shield against the unknown.

Though the fields remained quiet, their minds were focused and their senses attuned, ready to react at a moment's notice.

With every step, the tension grew, fueled by the anticipation of the unexpected.

The absence of encounters didn't diminish their vigilance; if anything, it heightened their awareness.

They knew that in these moments of eerie silence, a single misstep could have dire consequences.

And so, the seven MARSOC raiders forged ahead, their determination unshaken.

They were warriors accustomed to the uncertainty of their missions, their resilience tested time and again.

In the quiet fields, they remained steadfast, unwavering in their commitment to protect and serve for the Flag of the Free.

—

Hour's after that...

Hours had passed since the initial arrival.

The Fortress of Tanska stood tall, surrounded by the river that acted as its natural defense.

The moon shone brightly overhead, casting a silver glow on the water's surface.

Within the fortress, a lone patrol of Imperial soldiers maneuvered cautiously in a small wooden boat, their torch illuminating the surrounding area.

As the soldiers navigated the river, one of them held the torch near the water, drawn to a peculiar sound.

The noise seemed out of place, unlike anything they had encountered before.

"Isn't that enough? It must have been a fish or something jumping." One of the soldiers speculated, attempting to dismiss the disturbance.

"Just a little longer." The Soldier holding the torch insisted, his curiosity piqued.

"That was way too loud, even for a fish." Another Soldier remarked, his concern growing.

"Enough already. Our patrol won't end at this rate." A third Soldier interjected, eager to move on.

"If you touch the clappers again, our Centurions will chew us out." A fourth Soldier warned, his voice laced with caution.

Reluctantly, they decided to row away, leaving the mysterious sound behind.

Little did they know that their presence had not gone unnoticed.

From a concealed vantage point in the water, the commander of the MARSOC raiders observed the soldiers' departure through his night vision goggles.

He signaled his team to move forward, silently communicating their next steps.

The Marines, equipped with their weapons, cautiously advanced through the water, keeping a vigilant eye out for any potential threats.

The seven raiders swam stealthily towards the top of a hill near the fortress.

Among them, a Marine armed with an M82 Barrett Sniper Rifle and his spotter lay in a prone position, scanning the area.

After meticulous observation, they finally spotted their primary target.

"Target spotted in the middle of the plaza, 334 meters." The Spotter reported, his silenced M14 Sniper Rifle within reach.

"I've got her." The Marine with the .50 caliber sniper rifle responded, his scope fixed on the designated area.

"Major Adams, she's in the cage in the middle of the plaza." A Marine reported to their commanding officer.

Adams peered through his binoculars, straining to catch a glimpse of the captive's face.

"Shit, I can't see her face." He muttered in frustration.

"What will we do now?" Another Marine inquired, concern etched on his face.

"If we confirm her identity, we'll proceed with a stealthy rescue operation." Adams declared, his voice unwavering.

"Well, then we'll be waiting until morning," The Marine replied, resigned to the cautious approach.

"Our mission is to rescue the abductee, and we can't afford to be detected prematurely." Another Marine reasoned, emphasizing the importance of secrecy.

"Sir." Delilah, who had joined the team, now dressed in the Marines' woodland MARPAT camouflage uniform, interjected.

"Wouldn't it be enough to just wake her up? Leave it to me." She proposed confidently, eager to contribute.

Adams swiftly halted her impulsive move.

"Hold it, Delilah!" He shouted, his voice tinged with concern.

"Don't you understand? They've likely set up an ambush for us. Think about your own safety first." Adams said to the warrior bunny.

"But didn't we expect that? Are you just going to wait until morning?" Delilah retorted, frustration evident in her voice, as she attempted to rush towards the fortress, only to be stopped by Adams once again.

"Just one act of recklessness, Delilah. We'll move once we have confirmed the identity of the abductee." Adams replied firmly, attempting to reason with her.

"We can't afford to jeopardize the mission by rushing in blindly. Your safety is a priority." Adams told her.

"Why not just send me to do it?" Delilah questioned, her determination unwavering.

Adams let out a sigh, realizing that he needed to make Delilah understand the bigger picture.

"Delilah, when I say 'We,' it includes you" He explained, his voice softer now.

"You're part of this team, and we all have to look out for each other." He said.

The other Marines nodded in agreement, expressing their support for Delilah's inclusion.

Her eyes widened with surprise and gratitude, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"Wait... You think of me as one of you?" She asked, touched by their acceptance.

Adams chuckled and replied with a warm smile.

"Of course we do. You've proven yourself and earned your place here." Adams said to her.

Embracing the newfound sense of camaraderie, Delilah's confidence grew.

"Alright, then. Is it enough to wake her up from here?" She asked, her determination now focused on the task at hand.

Adams nodded, acknowledging her readiness.

Delilah grabbed her compound bow, and quiver loaded a special military-grade arrows, she took one, and took aim.

"She'll wake up from this hit." Delilah stated with confidence, her focus unwavering.

"Just be careful not to hit her in the head. We don't want to make any unnecessary noise." Adams cautioned.

Delilah nodded in understanding and steadied her aim.

With a fluid motion, she released the arrow, watching as it flew through the air and struck the abductee's shoulder.

The captive turned around, causing gasps of surprise among the Marines who were observing through binoculars.

"It's the Secretary of State's little sister." One Marine exclaimed, the revelation shocking the entire team.

"Sir Jim's sister?" Delilah echoed, her voice filled with astonishment.

"Indeed. That is Camila Jim, the Secretary of State's younger sister." The Marine with the Barrett Sniper Rifle confirmed.

"Sir, Major Clark and Major Davis, along with their own team of raiders, have just arrived." Another Marine reported.

"Good. Martinez and Perez, provide cover for us. Let's go." Adams commanded the two snipers positioned on the hill.

With the snipers providing overwatch, the Marines, accompanied by Delilah, cautiously made their way through the swampy river surrounding the fortress.

They swam silently, keeping low in the water to avoid detection.

—

Meanwhile, inside the fortress...

The head Centurion was delivering orders to the four Imperial soldiers who had been patrolling the river.

His voice filled with urgency and impatience, he emphasized the importance of their patrols.

"Patrols are crucial! Do you not understand? Look for any signs, no matter how small! Report any anomalies, even the tiniest noises!" The Centurion bellowed, his frustration evident.

"Even the sound of a fish jumping?" One of the Imperial soldiers joked, triggering laughter from the others.

The Centurion glared at them, his expression stern.

Immediately, the soldiers straightened up, their laughter fading into silence.

"You're dismissed. Continue your patrol." The Centurion ordered, his tone authoritative.

As the soldiers left to resume their duties, the Centurion made his way out, leaving the soldiers to their tasks.

Unbeknownst to the Centurion, Adams and his team had been listening to the conversation, gathering valuable intelligence.

—

Their earlier efforts to understand the enemy's movements had not been in vain.

Adams analyzed the situation, recognizing the opportunity that presented itself.

"There's little to no boat activity near here." Adams remarked, voicing his observation.

"Well, it's late at night. Most of them are probably asleep." Another Marine responded.

Turning to Delilah, Adams issued an order.

"Delilah, listen closely to their conversation." Adams ordered.

Delilah nodded, lowering her hat to enhance her hearing capabilities.

She strained to catch the snippets of conversation between the head Centurion and the Imperial soldier.

"Commander Borhos, nothing seems to be here." The Imperial Soldier reported.

"That's impossible. The Americans or their allies might have already infiltrated. Send in more boats." The head Centurion, Borhos, ordered.

The Marine team exchanged puzzled glances as they overheard the discussion about boats and infiltration.

The pieces of the puzzle began to come together, and they realized the Centurion's paranoia had clouded his judgment.

"My Lord, are you certain they are here?" The soldier asked, doubt creeping into his voice.

Interrupting their conversation, a much older man with a cane approached.

The Marines recognized him immediately.

"Hey, isn't that..." One of them whispered before being silenced by his comrades.

"That's General Godasen. He led the first attack on Alnus." Adams whispered, his voice filled with contempt.

Godasen yawned, displaying his weariness.

"What's with this sudden ruckus you're causing, Head Centurion?" He inquired, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Borhos replied, determined to prove his suspicions.

"We have evidence that the enemy is present near the fortress, Lord Godasen." Borhos replied, standing up straight for the general.

The general arched an eyebrow, his skepticism apparent.

"Are you certain about that?" He questioned.

"One of our patrols noticed an anomaly with the clappers." Borhos replied, hoping to convince Godasen of the imminent danger.

Godasen scoffed, exasperated by Borhos' alarmist behavior.

"Are you a fool? It was